Meet Krissy Manzano

We recently connected with Krissy Manzano and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Krissy, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

I’ve learned that I’m most effective when I don’t let being “the only one in the room” take up space in my head. Yes, there are many moments when I’m the only woman at the table. But I’m also usually in a room full of incredibly smart, capable people, even if they don’t look like me.

What matters most is the energy I bring in. If I walk in feeling defensive, I’m already limiting myself. I won’t show up as my best self, and I won’t be able to connect, problem-solve, or lead in the way I know I can.

Do I want more women in these rooms? Absolutely. But that doesn’t mean I dwell on the fact that I’m the only one. Instead, I focus on showing what’s possible when women are given the opportunity to lead.

And I never want to miss the chance to build relationships with incredible people, regardless of what they look like. For me, that mindset has made all the difference.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m the CEO and Co-Founder of Blueprint Expansion, a GTM recruiting firm that helps early-stage and high-growth companies build world-class sales, marketing, and customer success teams. What excites me most is helping companies hire in a way that actually feels predictable and scalable, because hiring shouldn’t feel like guessing. We use a process-driven approach that consistently builds teams that drive revenue and real market impact.

I’ve spent more than 15 years leading and building teams, both inside organizations and now as a founder. Earlier in my career, I helped one company scale revenue from $500K to over $60M in a single year, and I led high-performing SaaS sales teams at Motive, ServiceSource, and SiteHawk. Those experiences shaped how I think about growth, leadership, and what it takes to hire truly great talent.

While we partner closely with companies, we also have a real passion for helping people get jobs. That’s why we’re launching Master the Interview, our new master class designed for job seekers, which will be available on our website in January 2026. It’s a way for us to support more people in navigating the hiring process with confidence.

I’m also passionate about the future of recruiting, especially how AI can make hiring smarter while still keeping people at the center. Blueprint is continuing to expand, and we’re focused on helping more companies hire the right people at the right time so they can grow faster and with more clarity.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Pivoting through real at-bats.
When you’re starting a business, it’s easy to go to extremes — rushing into everything with no process or overanalyzing every move and barely making progress. Both will slow you down. What I’ve learned is you do need a plan, but not one that’s mapped out months ahead. In the early stages, things change constantly, and your ability to pivot is everything.
Getting real at-bats with potential buyers, even if you’re offering heavily discounted work at first, is what teaches you the most. Those early opportunities show you where to start, what people actually value, and what you should double down on. You don’t get that clarity by thinking. You get it by doing.
Advice: Don’t hide behind long-term planning or wait until everything feels perfect. Get in front of real customers, learn fast, and pivot just as fast.

2. Connecting with people in a real way.
Everything I’ve done, leading teams, recruiting, building a company, has been rooted in relationships. When you really listen and stay curious, people feel it. And that’s when the real opportunities show up.
Advice: Be present. Ask honest questions. Pay attention to what matters to people. Relationships will take you farther than any job title.

3. Staying resilient when things get messy.
There were plenty of moments where things felt overwhelming or uncertain. What helped me most was focusing on the next step instead of the whole mountain.
Advice: Build habits that ground you. Surround yourself with people who lift you up. And remember that tough moments usually mean you’re growing, not failing.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed — which happens a lot when you’re running a growing company — I take the same advice I give my team: it’s okay to feel overwhelmed, but it’s not okay to stay overwhelmed. Feel it, acknowledge it, and then move into problem-solving mode.

I don’t try to push away the scary feelings or the long list of things I need to do. I let myself feel them, then I write everything down and figure out what actually needs my attention right now and what doesn’t.

Every single time I do this, I realize I can handle it. The overwhelm gets lighter because I gave myself a moment to breathe, get clarity, and prioritize.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.blueprintexpansion.com
• Instagram: bp_gtm
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blueprintexpansion
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@blueprint_expansion